Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1469: [Side Story] Deng Shentong

The information Blizzard City had provided to Deng Shentong didn't specify what kind of ability the transport item possessed as a Transcendent.

It only stated that half a month ago, during a routine mission, their patrol team had discovered a young girl who had escaped from Wandering Phantom's territory.

"According to our records, she was a servant by Wandering Phantom's side, always following him closely. However, when we found her, we didn't detect any attack-type abilities on her."

"So we simply sent people to bring her back for research."

As Deng Shentong continued his conversation, he gazed at the frail girl.

Her complexion was unnaturally pale, and her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, covering half her face.

Yet somehow, the moment he laid eyes on her, an impulse to protect her stirred deep within Deng Shentong's heart.

It seemed her fragility could awaken the most primal protective instincts in anyone.

Deng Shentong hadn't received precise intelligence, but judging by appearances, she had likely fled from Wandering Phantom's territory.

Wandering Phantom was precisely the target of Deng Shentong's current mission.

Deng Shentong felt compassion for the girl. He walked up to Amber, crouched down, and revealed a warm, brilliant smile.

"Don't be afraid. You're safe now."

He extended his right hand toward her. "I'm the investigation captain of Blizzard City. My name is Deng Shentong."

Amber stared at the gentle, handsome man before her, and light gradually flickered in her eyes.

She softly placed her hand in his palm.

"Amber."

She spoke her name.

Deng Shentong noticed the thin clothing she wore, which seemed insufficient to withstand the bitter cold of this environment.

So he directly activated the intelligent system, and soon the Snowland Iron Wolf caught up with the train.

Deng Shentong stopped the train, then opened the side storage compartment of the Snowland Iron Wolf, retrieving a spare combat suit and handing it to her to put on.

"You escaped from Wandering Phantom's territory, didn't you?"

He handed Amber a compressed food packet and asked gently, his voice like a loving father doting on his daughter.

Amber naturally took the food and began eating, never once suspecting that the man before her might harm her.

Even when facing the ferocious, murderous bandits of the Wandering Souls, she had shown no trace of fear.

But the moment she heard the name "Wandering Phantom," her body stiffened violently, and the food nearly slipped from her hands.

Seeing this, Deng Shentong understood everything in his heart.

"It seems she really is a poor girl who escaped from Wandering Phantom's territory," he thought to himself.

Wandering Phantom was the most powerful warlord in this region, a Dissident who had clearly achieved captain-level strength.

Even Blizzard City was reluctant to provoke a conflict with him unless absolutely necessary.

It wasn't a matter of insufficient strength; rather, across the entire Jiangnan Region, besides the thirteen major cities under Blizzard City's control, countless smaller powers existed throughout the vast remaining territories.

Blizzard City alone simply lacked the capability to cleanse the entire region.

The land area of Huaxu Nation was simply too immense.

And since the Great Mutation Era had arrived, some exceptionally gifted Transcendents had emerged among the Dissidents in the outside world. Even without access to Blizzard City's premium resources, they had grown rapidly.

Zhang Yi was one example, but far from the only one.

The train came to a stop on the desolate, snowy plain. Amber sat on the edge of the carriage door, quietly eating.

Deng Shentong stood beside her, watching her eat with tenderness.

For some reason, looking at her always touched the softest part of his heart.

"Can you tell me about yourself?"

As Amber swallowed the food, Deng Shentong handed her a thermos, and she took a big gulp of hot water.

"You're going after Wandering Phantom?"

She stared at Deng Shentong, her voice calm, even carrying a hint of coldness.

"That's right."

Deng Shentong nodded.

Amber lowered her head. "I'd advise you not to go throw your life away. No one can kill him."

Deng Shentong shrugged and smiled. "That's because you've never met someone like me!"

He knew that Wandering Phantom was an extremely powerful Dissident.

According to Blizzard City's intelligence, there were some records about that guy.

He was a very strong and exceptionally cautious Transcendent.

The place he lived was a vast, frozen swamp, which Wandering Phantom called the Ice Flower Swamp.

He never left that swamp because it was a fortress he had fortified to perfection.

Any Transcendent who recklessly intruded never walked out alive.

The reason Blizzard City had placed a bounty on him was because, half a month ago, a Blizzard City patrol team had accidentally wandered in, and Wandering Phantom had killed them all!

In a duel between Transcendents, the decisive factors were as follows.

First, attributes. If attributes were countered, even a stronger ability index might not guarantee victory. For example, Zhang Yi's time-space ability completely suppressed purely physical-type Transcendents.

Second, ability index. If there was no clear attribute counter between the two opponents and combat conditions were equal, the higher ability index meant more powerful abilities and a greater chance of victory.

Third, combat conditions. This was an extremely important and complex factor. It included knowledge of the enemy's abilities and whether the battle took place in a suitable environment.

An ice-type Transcendent on ice, a fire-type in a forest, a rule-type Transcendent laying traps like a spider spinning its web, or an enhancement-type in close-quarters combat in an open space.

The environment was crucial to the outcome of a fight.

Fourth, pure luck.

The reason Wandering Phantom was so difficult to deal with, even being classified as an A-rank mission target, was not only his immense power but also the fact that he never left his territory.

Anyone who stepped inside would have already lost at least the third and most important of those four conditions.

Still, Deng Shentong remained confident in himself. No other reason—just because he was Deng Shentong.

Amber was startled by his confidence. She thought for a moment, then lowered her head and said, "I really did escape from there. But..." She paused, shaking her head. "I just can't picture you defeating Wandering Phantom."

Deng Shentong shrugged helplessly, not taking it to heart.

Throughout his contact with Amber, he hadn't noticed anything particularly unusual about this girl.

Except for one subtle feeling—otherwise, everything indicated she wasn't a Transcendent with strong combat abilities.

"I understand. You must be really scared of Wandering Phantom, right?"

Deng Shentong looked ahead as the Snowland Iron Wolf slowly pulled up beside them.

He said to her, "I'm heading off to fight Wandering Phantom now. You can take this vehicle. It'll bring you safely back to Blizzard City!"